Alumni Interview with Alyssa Chamberlain

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I have lived abroad in Spain before and was looking for something that allowed me to return to Spain long term. I have a degree in psychology and love working with children. I was looking for something to help expand my resume. 

Why did you choose CONVERSASPAIN? 

I loved that ConversaSpain offered in-country assistance. It’s definitely one less thing you have to worry about. 

What was your favorite part about Spain? 

The Spanish lifestyle is very relaxed and laid back—there is no rush to do anything. I love that lunch lasts for so long and gives you time to relax during the day. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

Myself, because I am so pleased with how much more Spanish I have picked up! It really changes your experience when you are able to talk to locals in their own language. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

I initially had a scheduling conflict but ConversaSpain made sure that it was sorted in a timely manner. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

I would have liked to have lived in the city centre. I chose a location closer to the schools but would have preferred to live in the heart of the city closer to the other participants. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

I would wake up around 7:30 a.m. to catch my ride at 8:25 a.m., who happened to be a teacher from the school who lived on the same street as me. So lucky! At school, I'd go to my assigned class where I would start off with an English introduction refresher. We talked about basic things, like colours, body parts, prepositions, actions, and what the children are doing to get them in the right mindset.

If the teacher had activities they needed to finish, then I would help the children with these—usually, one-on-one or in small groups as they work at their desks. My day would finish at 2:00 p.m. I usually had a small lunch and got a ride home with the teacher to our apartments. Then I would normally relax, explore the city, go to the gym, prepare games for the kids, or plan trips for my time off. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

Travelling is one of the reasons I came to live in Europe as it is so cheap to travel here. I saved extra money before coming to make this a possibility. I've been to many new places in Spain this year, such as Alicante, Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Almeria, Mallorca, and Ibiza. I love being able to explore the country in a much more personal way, getting to know each different province. 

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

I lived alone with my boyfriend. We definitely paid extra to be the only people in the apartment, but we wanted our privacy. Our apartment has a huge rooftop terrace that is shared with the rest of the complex but we were usually the only ones up there. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins? 

Take the initiative to make fun games for the kids, even if they're just short games for 5-10 minutes. It helps you get to know them (learning all the names is a challenge!) and teaches them that learning can be a fun, immersive experience. 

Would you recommend CONVERSASPAIN to others? Why? 

Yes! It was great to feel a sense of security while being abroad and knowing that if anything did go wrong I would have someone to turn to. 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

The biggest benefit is experience a new culture and a new understanding of how people live. In Canada, many people work long hours with breaks (myself included), so being abroad and experiencing a laid back culture helped me to realise that life is not all about the grind. Taking time for yourself and your own interests is just as important. 

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life? 

I am already planning my next trip abroad! I am so curious to see what else is out there and what other experiences I can have. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

Meaningful travel to me is slow travel, experiencing culture and cities like a local does. Living a day-to-day life as a local does is immersive, and different from visiting a city for two or three days running around trying to see everything. I know that it's not possible to do that wherever you go, but if you get the opportunity to live like a local you should take it!